Back in the 90s, Audi decided to offer its customers a sports-focused family wagon and introduced the RS2 Avant. The model was a complete success and since then fast Audi wagons are a staple of the brand’s product portfolio.
It was thanks to Audi that other brands found out that family cars with performance comparable to the best sports cars of the world are so desirable. The latest estate addition to the Audi RS family was the RS6 Avant. In its current form, it can catapult its passengers to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds. This is faster than some of the Lamborghini Huracan versions! Audi wagons are crazy fast, and they only keep getting better. Here are the top 7 of them all!
Audi RS2 Avant
Back in the 90s, Audi’s position was not yet as established as its rivals’ BMW and Mercedes, and so to support their position on the market, the brand decided to build a sports-focused family wagon and asked Porsche for help. The famous manufacturer has taken the Audi 80 and made significant improvements to it.
The brakes of the RS2 were borrowed from the Porsche 968 Clubsport, and to accommodate space for them, larger 17-inch Porsche wheels were fitted to the model. Furthermore, the chassis was modified with new shock absorbers, springs, stabilizers, and axles. Of course, it would not be a proper sports car if the engine was not modified as well. For this reason, Porsche has taken the 2.2L 20V 5-cylinder Audi engine and overhauled the internals to increase power. Thanks to a large KKK turbocharger, the RS2 Avant was able to generate 315 horsepower and 302 lb.-ft of torque.
In the end, this Audi wagon was more powerful than the BMW M3, Porsche 911, and even the Ferrari 348! What’s more, the 0-30 mph time of the RS2 Avant was faster than the McLaren’s F1 supercar, and the top speed achieved almost 163 mph.
With only 2,908 ever made and being the first fast Audi wagon, the RS2 Avant is a highly praised model and sought after by collectors. It is the model that has paved the way for the later RS4 and RS6, and one that has started the trend of practical sports cars.
Audi S6 Plus Avant (C4)
After the success of the RS2 Avant, the German manufacturer has decided to introduce another sports Audi wagon, now based on the Audi A6. First, the Audi S6 was made available, followed by an S6 Plus model later, serving as the farewell to the C4 generation. The S6 Plus Avant was produced just between June 1996 and October 1997. In that time, 855 units were assembled, in addition to 97 sedan variants.
The Audi S6 Plus Avant is powered by a 4.2-liter eight-cylinder engine that produces 326 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft of torque. Thanks to such a large engine, this Audi wagon can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in just 5.6 seconds, which was impressive back then, and is still respectable by today’s standards. In addition, the S6 Plus was equipped with a firmer suspension, and larger brakes, which were necessary for stopping the vehicle from its electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.
From the outside, the S6 Plus Avant looks elegant and not overly aggressive. Only the blacked-out chrome parts, larger 17-inch wheels, and small RS badges suggest that this is not just a regular Audi wagon. On the other hand, the interior is quite special. With leather-alcantara Recaro seats, carbon fiber trim, and a sports three-spoke steering wheel, the driver feels like in a proper sports car, especially with the optional blue interior color. The blue interior was a great addition to the optional Nogaro blue exterior paint, which was available on the S6 versions only.
Audi S4 Avant (B5)
Positioned slightly below the RS models, the S4 Avant B5 is often overlooked when looking at the best Audi wagons. It might also have to do with the fact that it did not offer a large 4.2L V8 engine like its successor, the B6 generation. On the other hand, the B5 could be considered superior in some aspects. The V8 engine from the Audi A8 was deemed by many to be too large and too heavy for the A4, so the older iteration is more agile. On top of this, its drivetrain is more reliable and offers more tuning headroom with its twin turbos.
What exactly is the S4 Avant B5 powered by? A 2.7-liter Bi-Turbo V6 that generates 265 hp and 258 lb.-ft of torque. In addition, the drivetrain is paired to a six-speed manual transmission and a Quattro all-wheel drive system as standard. This is a significant step up to the base 1.6L I4 engine generating a mere 100 bhp in the standard A4 Avant.
With around 31 cubic feet of cargo space and enough room to fit children in the back seats, the S4 was the perfect family hauler for car enthusiasts. In addition, both the interior and exterior received a slightly sportier design, which made the model very appealing, especially with the large six-spoke wheels and rare Imola yellow paint. Only about 80 S4 Avants in this color were ever imported to the US!
Audi RS4 Avant (B5)
The RS4 Avant was the direct replacement for the first fast Audi wagon, the RS2 Avant. It was sold between 1991 and 2001, which you would not have guessed, as the B5 generation has aged very well with its simple and elegant design. As a step up from the previously mentioned S4, it came with a slightly modified version of the 2.7-liter Bi-Turbo, and a plethora of other changes on top.
The engineers at Audi made sure to adjust every aspect of the RS4 for proper sports use and equipped it with wider axles, overhauled suspension, larger brakes, and a few styling options exclusive to the RS model. Compared to the S4, the engine generated an extra 110 hp, for a total of 375 bhp and 325 lb.-ft of torque. Just like the S4, even the RS wagon came with a 6-speed manual transmission and the famous Audi Quattro four-wheel drive as standard.
While with over 6,000 units produced, the RS4 Avant B5 is more accessible than the older Audi wagons, it is still rare to find one for sale today. This model is considered to be one of the best RS models of all times thanks to its mechanical drive feel, which makes it highly sought after by car enthusiasts and prices are increasing every year. Today’s cars have gone a long way and offer even more power, but they can’t match the engaged feeling you get when driving this RS4 which allows you to turn off even the few assists that it was equipped with back in the day.
Audi RS6 Avant (C6)
The Audi RS6 Avant has always been an amazing car but the C6 generation is probably the most memorable for Audi enthusiasts. In 2007, Audi introduced the C6 generation of this Audi wagon, which was the one that pushed the RS models to the maximum, and that in terms of practicality, comfort, and power.
The now three generations old RS6 left the factory with a huge 5.0L ten-cylinder engine. This behemoth engine produces 571 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft of torque. This allowed the RS6 to achieve a 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds, and a maximum speed of 170 mph with an electronic limiter. What’s more, this engine is based on a drivetrain from the Lamborghini Gallardo.
A luxurious family Audi wagon with a Lamborghini engine! This was in the same period that BMW was selling its M5 with a V10 as well, which shows that the 2000s were probably the best years for car enthusiasts.
This Audi wagon can also be considered one of the best sleepers, as nobody would guess that this sublime-looking vehicle has so much power and such refined driving qualities. Besides a slightly different grille with a honeycomb structure, silver mirror covers, and two large oval exhaust tips in the back, it looks like a regular A6 with the base 2.0L engine. On the inside, the C6 is almost as luxurious as the top-of-the-line A8 of the time, and the sports seats with integrated headrests and an RS dedicated steering wheel make the driver feel even more special.
Audi RS4 Avant (B9)
Getting to the current models, the Audi RS4 Avant in the B9 generation is one of the fastest Audi wagons of all time. It is unbelievable that the mighty but so much smaller 2.9L V6 can propel the RS4 to 60 mph faster than the Lamborghini V10 in the RS6 C6. The drivetrains simply get more efficient with each new generation.
The TFSI engine in this vehicle generates 442 lb.-ft of torque and 444 hp. This is significantly more than what the B8 generation offered, yet the current model is 200 lbs. lighter. Naturally, the RS model comes with Quattro all-wheel drive as standard, supplemented by an 8-speed automatic DSG transmission.
It is amazing how well the RS4 connects family use and weekend driving in the canyons. You get all the creature comfort features such as 3-zone climate control, a premium sound system, lane keep assist, comfortable seats, and enough space for your kids but also carbon-ceramic brakes, adaptive suspension, rear sports differential, and a performance exhaust. The interior feels very premium, and the exterior gives more hints that you are looking at a serious sports car than in the B8 or B7 generation of the RS4.
With its 2020 facelift, this Audi wagon has improved even further. More comfort features and slightly improved power ensure that the RS4 stays on par with its European rivals including the Mercedes-Benz C63 and the recently revealed BMW M3 Touring.
Audi RS6 Avant (C8)
Even more power, sophistication, and technology. This is how you could summarize the new Audi RS6 Avant of the C8 generation, which started its production in 2019. In comparison with the previous model, the new RS6 is far more aggressive on the outside with a low and wide stance. It is no longer an unrecognizable family wagon as in the past. The interior has also been significantly updated and is now equipped with three large LCD screens and packed with comfort and safety features.
For the first time, the RS6 features a hybrid drivetrain, which uses a 48V mild-hybrid system that can supply 16 additional bhp to the engine. The engine itself is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 592 bhp and a massive 590 lb.-ft of torque. In combination with an improved automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive, the RS6 Avant can get to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds. As standard, the maximum speed is limited to 155 mph but with an optional Dynamic package, the Audi wagon will push until 190 mph.
Audi has even offered this model in the RS Tribute Edition, which celebrates and pays tribute to the model that started it all – the Audi RS2 Avant. Without it, we would never get to experience these fast performance Audi wagons. Limited to only 25 units (following the 25th anniversary of Audi RS models), the Tribute Edition promises to become an extremely rare collector’s item in the future. The exterior is highlighted by a Nogaro Blue metallic paint originating from the RS2, and the interior is accented by blue contrast stitching.
Can Audi Wagons Get Better?
With the crazy performance of the latest RS models, it is hard to imagine how Audi wagons can get any better. The brand has gone a long way from its first RS2 Avant to the current RS6.
The transition will go even further once the manufacturer decides to move to electric drivetrains, which will likely make the performance even better. Until then, enjoy the rumble of the large displacement engines, and the unique feeling of the S and RS Avant models, which perfectly connect the need for a family wagon, and a crazy supercar.
